Research on vaccines and immunization. Covers COVID and flu vaccines, outbreak response, long-lasting antibodies, and vaccination in vulnerable groups.
The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America recommends immunizations against vaccine-preventable diseases for healthcare personnel, educators, and students. Medical contraindications are the only exception to receiving recommended immunizations.
The article examines the evidence for vaccinating children against COVID-19, highlighting both benefits and drawbacks. Experts consider factors such as vaccine efficacy, side effects, and long-term health implications in making their case for or against mandates.
Public confidence in vaccines varies widely between countries, with signs of improvement in parts of Europe but growing scepticism in others. The study found that six countries experienced substantial increases in people strongly disagreeing vaccines are safe, mirroring trends in political instability and religious extremism.
Researchers analyzed COVID-19 patients' antibody responses to guide vaccine development, finding that neutralizing activity typically drops within one month post-hospital discharge and severe cases have non-neutralizing antibodies contributing to reinfection risk.
A new model prioritizes countries based on premature deaths caused by COVID-19, focusing on mitigating three types of harms: death and permanent organ damage, indirect health consequences, and economic destruction. The Fair Priority Model aims to reduce premature deaths and other irreversible health consequences from COVID-19.
A new Fair Priority Model proposes mitigating three types of COVID-19 harms: death, organ damage, healthcare strain, and economic destruction. The model aims to benefit people and limit harm while prioritizing the disadvantaged and giving equal moral concern to all individuals.
Scientists have developed a controlled human hookworm infection model to accelerate vaccine development, with the goal of preventing infections that affect 576-740 million people worldwide. The study will evaluate two lead vaccine antigens and assess their efficacy in a phase II trial.
Researchers at Ohio State University developed a novel vaccine technique that induces antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 by boosting antigen production. In animal studies, the treatment successfully produced antibodies against the virus within a month.
The BCG vaccine has been shown to protect elderly people against various respiratory infections, including those of viral origin. This protective effect was observed in a double-blind randomized clinical study, which found that BCG-vaccinated participants had 75% fewer respiratory infections than placebo recipients.
The new guidelines update recommendations for feline vaccinations, encouraging veterinarians to consider individualized risk factors and lifestyle-based vaccine calculators. The guidelines aim to improve feline wellbeing by providing tailored vaccination protocols and educating pet owners about the importance of vaccination.
The FDA's emergency use authorization process for COVID-19 vaccines was criticized for its speed and lack of rigor. The researchers propose four reforms to enhance accountability and transparency in drug authorizations and approvals, including improved risk assessment and post-marketing surveillance.
The introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine PCV13 has significantly reduced socioeconomic disparities and Black-white-based racial disparities for invasive pneumococcal disease. The study found a large decrease in the overall incidence of pneumococcal disease and markedly reduced race-based disparities.
A new mouse model developed at UNC-Chapel Hill has captured many features of human COVID-19 disease, advancing the development of vaccines and therapeutics. The model has shown promise in protecting mice from infection with various treatments, including mRNA-1273 vaccine candidate.
A recent study found that prior Zika virus infection can enhance the risk of severe dengue disease. The research used a cohort from Nicaragua to confirm previous reports on cross-reactive antibodies between Zika and dengue viruses. The findings have important implications for developing effective vaccines against both diseases.
The Cambridge-developed DNA vaccine candidate, DIOS-CoVax2, targets key regions of the virus to produce beneficial anti-viral responses. The vaccine aims to protect against SARS-CoV-2 and other related coronaviruses, with a potential for widespread use and low-cost manufacturing.
A new vaccine candidate has been developed for HHV-6B, a virus that causes exanthem subitum in infants. The vaccine targets the gH/gL/gQ1/gQ2 complex and induces strong immunity against the virus. Animal experiments have shown that the vaccine prevents HHV-6B infection and activates dendritic cells to induce innate immunity.
A study found that belief in negative vaccination misperceptions has a strong impact on policy views, with 20% of Americans holding negative views about vaccination. Strong support for mandatory childhood vaccinations was observed, but opposition to religious and personal belief exemptions remained significant.
Researchers have developed a promising COVID-19 vaccine candidate using virus-like particles (VLPs) that mimic the native SARS-CoV-2 virus. The VLP platform has shown success in stimulating immune responses against other viruses like HPV and HepB.
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison discovered that patients taking opioid painkillers produce anti-opioid antibodies, which may limit the benefit of an anti-opioid vaccine. The study found a correlation between recent opioid dose exposure and antibody production.
A University of Washington team is developing a model to simulate the impact of various interventions on population health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic. The model will generate policy recommendations that could help lower infections in King County.
The large-scale production of COVID-19 vaccines will necessitate the sharing of manufacturing knowledge to ensure rapid and effective scale-up. This includes disclosure of necessary information from patents, which can facilitate international collaboration and standardization.
A study found that independent search engines often return anti-vaccine websites, while internet giants like Google.com typically do not. This raises concerns about the spread of misinformation and its impact on vaccine hesitancy.
A new study found that countries with higher TB vaccination coverage have significantly improved COVID-19 outcomes, particularly in younger populations. The researchers analyzed data from 55 countries and found a constant association between BCG vaccine administration and COVID-19 outcomes.
A new experimental COVID-19 vaccine has been shown to prevent pneumonia and elicit high levels of protective antibodies in mice infected with the virus. The vaccine uses a mild virus genetically modified to carry a key gene from the COVID-19 virus, generating a strong immune response.
A new oral anthrax vaccine is being developed by Texas A&M researchers to protect livestock and wildlife from the deadly disease. The vaccine, which uses a gel-like suspension of live bacteria, could potentially be distributed through bait to reach animals more easily.
A new vaccine candidate BCG::RD1 has shown highly protective effects against tuberculosis in older mice with type 2 diabetes. The vaccine acts on multiple immune cell subsets to mount a robust response against TB-causing bacteria.
Researchers are developing and testing technology for delivering vaccine doses via the skin using microneedles. This innovative approach aims to improve patient compliance and yield better health outcomes, with potential benefits including reduced burden on healthcare systems and increased accessibility for self-administration at home.
A new study demonstrates the potential of an intranasal vaccine platform using self-assembling peptide nanofibers tagged with antigens, inducing an immune response and activating T cells without adjuvants. This technology offers a safer and more effective alternative for generating long-lasting immunity against diseases.
A recent study published in Cell Reports Medicine found that the BCG vaccine is safe and does not increase the risk of COVID-19 symptoms. The research also suggests a cautiously positive picture, with lower numbers of sick people and extreme fatigue among vaccinated individuals during the pandemic.
A study published in Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica found that HPV vaccination significantly reduces the risk of high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, a precancerous condition leading to cervical cancer. Vaccination coverage was high among young women born in 1993, resulting in a 30% lower risk compared to those...
A carefully engineered spike protein stabilizer has aided in the development of a new COVID-19 vaccine. The stabilizer, known as S-2P protein, keeps infection from spreading and prompts a helpful immune response.
The investigational vaccine induced neutralizing antibodies in mice, providing protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Additionally, mice challenged with the virus after a single dose showed protection against viral replication in the lung, indicating potential efficacy in humans.
A study found that countries with mandatory BCG vaccination until 2000 exhibited slower infection and death rates during the initial COVID-19 outbreak. Researchers estimated that only 468 people would have died in the US if mandatory BCG vaccination had been implemented decades earlier.
Researchers created a new mouse model to study viral responses and test COVID-19 vaccines. The model, based on an adapted SARS-CoV-2 strain, showed promise in protecting vaccinated mice from disease.
Clinical studies in Kenya suggest that iron deficiency during infancy may reduce the protection provided by vaccinations. In one study, researchers found that anaemic infants had more than twice the risk of lacking protective antibodies against diphtheria and other pathogens.
An experimental COVID-19 vaccine demonstrated robust immune responses and rapid viral control in the upper and lower airways of rhesus macaques. The vaccine reduced replicating virus in the lungs and upper airway, which could limit disease progression and transmission.
A team of researchers from SMART has developed a novel approach to induce strong and broad immunity against the dengue virus. Sequential immunization was found to be more effective in inducing higher levels of neutralizing antibodies to all four DENV serotypes than traditional tetravalent-formulated immunization.
A comprehensive review of vaccine data over 20 years found vaccines to be remarkably safe, with most safety issues identified through existing postmarketing surveillance programs. The study confirms the effectiveness of the vaccine approval system and postmarketing surveillance in ensuring public health benefits while minimizing risks.
A new mRNA-based vaccine candidate, ARCoV, elicits protective immunity in mice and non-human primates, preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection. The vaccine induces high levels of neutralizing antibodies and T cell responses, offering broad protection against different strains.
A Phase III vaccine trial will be conducted at UC San Diego, recruiting up to 500 participants to assess the efficacy and immunogenicity of a Moderna-developed vaccine. The trial aims to demonstrate the vaccine's ability to prevent COVID-19 and severe symptoms, with results expected by end of year.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have successfully redesigned a key protein from the coronavirus, enabling faster and more stable vaccine production. The new design, called HexaPro, produces up to 10 times more protein than an earlier version, potentially reducing vaccine doses or speeding up production.
Researchers identified a strong bias towards U residues in SARS-CoV-2 mutations, suggesting a defense mechanism to degrade the virus. Natural selection allows the virus to adapt, but mutational processes may be hindered by human proteins.
Researchers are working on experimental gene-based vaccines using harmless viruses or DNA/RNA to deliver genetic information to human cells. The technology is fast but largely unproven, and concerns remain about neutralization levels and safety. Multiple types of vaccines will likely be needed to ensure effective immunity.
Researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science created artificial cells that produced viral parts, allowing for safe testing and development of diagnostic tools, drugs, and vaccines. The system consists of micrometer-sized compartments etched into a silicon chip, enabling controlled production of specific proteins.
Researchers created a hybrid virus that targets cells like SARS-CoV-2 but lacks severe disease genes. The hybrid virus can be handled under ordinary laboratory safety conditions, making it ideal for high-throughput analyses.
A study published in The Lancet Public Health found that nearly 60% of US parents of unvaccinated adolescents have no intention to initiate the HPV vaccine series. Healthcare providers play a crucial role in addressing parental misconceptions and ensuring series completion.
A new nanoparticle vaccine, repRNA-CoV2S, has shown hints of protection and immunity in preclinical studies with mice and macaques. The vaccine elicited robust immune responses, producing antibodies and antiviral T cell responses, and demonstrated safety and efficacy.
A replicating RNA vaccine has shown robust immune response in both young and old animal models, producing antibodies comparable to those in people recovering from COVID-19. The vaccine's design avoids immune responses that could exacerbate the virus, instead inducing protective antiviral measures and T cells.
A modelling study published in The Lancet Global Health found that continuing routine childhood vaccination programmes in Africa during the pandemic could save around 702,000 child lives from vaccine-preventable diseases. This number far exceeds the potential risks of COVID-19 transmission to older family members.
A novel mouse model shows that contained and persistent yet non-pathogenic Mtb infection reduces tuberculosis disease burden after re-exposure. The study highlights the importance of innate immune responses in protecting against the disease.
Inflammageing, an age-associated phenomenon of increased general inflammation, may inhibit overall immunity and reduce vaccination efficacy in older people. Strategies to mitigate related effects include senolytic drugs or anti-inflammatory therapies.
The Phase 1 trial of mRNA-1273 vaccine showed neutralizing antibody activity in healthy adults, with high levels observed after two doses. The vaccine was generally well-tolerated, with side effects including fatigue and pain at the injection site.
Researchers analyzed nearly 300 human SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and found IGHV3-53 is the most frequently used gene for targeting the virus spike protein. This gene leads to highly potent antibodies with lower mutation rates, making them promising for vaccine design.
A recent article in Nature Reviews Microbiology calls for more research into bats' molecular biology and ecology to predict and prevent the next pandemic. Bats carry a vast number of viruses, with evidence linking different species to human outbreaks of SARS, MERS, Ebola, and other diseases.
Researchers must consider factors like population immunity, social distancing, and baseline immunity when evaluating vaccine efficacy. Adequate sample sizes are needed to demonstrate vaccine effectiveness, which may be influenced by COVID-19 severity in vaccinated individuals.
A recent article by the Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health emphasizes the importance of understanding herd immunity in the context of COVID-19. The authors argue that traditional definitions of a 'case' are inadequate and propose using daily COVID hospital admissions as a more valid measure of the pandemic's medical impact.
A recent study analyzing 10 years of HPV-vaccine related Facebook posts reveals that anti-vaxxers have gained a stronger voice against the use of the human papillomavirus vaccine. Negative posts displayed a 45% increase in public engagement, with some showing negative views on vaccine safety and effectiveness.
A recent study published by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute found that people tend to perceive non-round numbers as unique and jarring, leading to a negative evaluation. This effect has implications for public health messaging, economic marketing, and organizational behavior.
Scientists from Japan investigate the mouse norovirus structure and find two alternative capsid structures (type A and type B) that switch depending on aqueous conditions. Type B particles show a delay in propagation and reduced adsorption to host cells, suggesting they may evade the immune system before changing to type A for infection.
UW-Madison researchers have created a safer way to deliver mRNA-based therapy for cancer, liver disorders, and vaccination. Tiny mineral particles (MCMs) with pores on their surface can carry molecules like proteins or messenger RNA, mimicking ancient discoveries in archaeology.